Media Centre/network Drive/everything Build.

[JAS-25T]

So, I want to build a machine that will do the following:

- Be connected to my network at home (probably wireless but not essential)

- Be connected and use my plasma (main TV in lounge) as the monitor

- Have huge storage for all my music and DVD, and any show's I record

- HD tuner cards. 2, to be able to record and watch at the same time

- access to internet in lounge

- playing emulator games

- able to access from the internet (kinda like FTP server?)

- possibly connect a gaming station to the network also (PS3 etc)

- blueray player

can't think of anything else right now.

But what I am thinking is to maybe even have a server setup that does some of the work (as in the storage and network connections) and then just a small media centre to connect to the plasma and be the machine that does all the playing of games/music/movies.

I've talked to a fair few people who have set up media centre's but just wanted any extra tips.

any help/tips anything will great.

thanks.

[pkblade]

So something like the diagram below?

For your Home Theatre PC:

Mobo - what components you can use will be determined by your mobo (eg. Intel/ AMD; DDR2/ DDR3, PCI-E x8/ x16, SLI/ X-fire etc), also most onboard sound cards today are just as good as aftermarket ones.

CPU - at least a core 2 duo or better.

GPU - any card that supports Blu-Ray & HD movies at 1080p resolution or higher (eg. ATi Radeon HD4850), also make sure it’s capable of the resolutions to compliment your monitor.

RAM - get as much memory as you can afford (pref. 4Gb).

HDD - HD movie files take up a lot of space so, again get as much storage as you can afford (1Tb min). Also, important that you have case fans to keep the disk drives cool.

HDTV Tuner - I have & recommend the DViCO DVB-T Dual Digital 4, you can record a channel while watching other channels and it includes a HD video converter program, v/handy if you want different formats & reduces file size.

For your Network:

You can either have a modem + wireless router or just a wireless modem router, and preferably with 802.11n or multiple wi-fi standards (eg. 802.11g / b/ n).

Wireless media player/ extender - Make sure it has the same wi-fi standard as the router and it’s DLNA compliant so it can communicate with the PS3 and other devices. Note that not all extenders enable you to surf the internet and some are limited to what you can surf, and check if you can add an external HDD to the media player to further increase your media library (eg. Media Gate media player MG-800HD, which can surf on video web sites (Youtube), d/l with uTorrent). Also, do your research on media players to make sure it will be compatible and stable with all devices you plan to connect to it (eg. LCD/ Plasma tv, sound system, blue tooth devices etc).

External HDD - depending how much network storage you want and can afford, you can get single/dual/quad bay Sata HDD enclosures to add to the media player’s memory.

Finally, the most common programs to manage your media network are Windows Media Player 11 or Tversity.

If you plan on using Windows Media Centre -> this forum should be helpful with your build.

[justin911]

yip or just put linux on ur ps3 and buy a bigger hdd for the ps3. Theres some cool versions of linux for ps3 these days that are specificaly for media centres.

So something like the diagram below?

For your Home Theatre PC:

Mobo - what components you can use will be determined by your mobo (eg. Intel/ AMD; DDR2/ DDR3, PCI-E x8/ x16, SLI/ X-fire etc), also most onboard sound cards today are just as good as aftermarket ones.

CPU - at least a core 2 duo or better.

GPU - any card that supports Blu-Ray & HD movies at 1080p resolution or higher (eg. ATi Radeon HD4850), also make sure it’s capable of the resolutions to compliment your monitor.

RAM - get as much memory as you can afford (pref. 4Gb).

HDD - HD movie files take up a lot of space so, again get as much storage as you can afford (1Tb min). Also, important that you have case fans to keep the disk drives cool.

HDTV Tuner - I have & recommend the DViCO DVB-T Dual Digital 4, you can record a channel while watching other channels and it includes a HD video converter program, v/handy if you want different formats & reduces file size.

For your Network:

You can either have a modem + wireless router or just a wireless modem router, and preferably with 802.11n or multiple wi-fi standards (eg. 802.11g / b/ n).

Wireless media player/ extender - Make sure it has the same wi-fi standard as the router and it’s DLNA compliant so it can communicate with the PS3 and other devices. Note that not all extenders enable you to surf the internet and some are limited to what you can surf, and check if you can add an external HDD to the media player to further increase your media library (eg. Media Gate media player MG-800HD, which can surf on video web sites (Youtube), d/l with uTorrent). Also, do your research on media players to make sure it will be compatible and stable with all devices you plan to connect to it (eg. LCD/ Plasma tv, sound system, blue tooth devices etc).

External HDD - depending how much network storage you want and can afford, you can get single/dual/quad bay Sata HDD enclosures to add to the media player’s memory.

Finally, the most common programs to manage your media network are Windows Media Player 11 or Tversity.

If you plan on using Windows Media Centre -> this forum should be helpful with your build.

[JAS-25T]

Im not sure I want to go to a full on server, but by the sounds of it, that is the natural progression.

[pkblade]

If you have a Media Player &/or Xbox360/ PS3 as your networks storage device, you don't need to have your computer on in order to access the files or surf the web so, it's not a full on server. The computer is just there to help manage files, d/l pr0n, record tv shows, convert any video files, and load them on to the media player.

[R31Nismoid]

You could do all that with just a HTPC and a wireless router, dont need an extender as such

What PC do you have now?

Does it have a couple of spare drive bays?

A blu ray player is $150 or so, pretty cheap. Just grab software, HDMI cable and put the tuner cards into the HTPC, connect to arial/TV and the router and im done.

cuts out a middle box requirement as the PC does the work direct to the TV (sit the HTPC behind it or on the side)

Then just have the HTPC connected to the Amp, have a wireless card/cable and then just put a zillion HDD's inside it so its internet/storage ready too

I was going to use my gaming machine and just stream to the HTPC, but i CBF'd and its easier just to torrent directly to the box itself and then flash it up on the TV and that way i can leave my gaming box clean of rubbish but still watch stuff on there (i work a lot of nights and stuff so pc room/headphones is quieter than having the TV so my housemate can sleep and sh|t). Because over wireless it'll stream easily enough with normal content, HD content maybe not but ive got wireless N almost finished which should let me do HD content if i so desire (and buy a better monitor for my game setup hehe)

So ye. A nice extravagant setup like PK posted would be nice, but realistically i dont think you'll need it.

Remember if you get a wireless router your phone and anything else can still connect to it, and you can use cable or wireless for a gaming station

A HTPC will be easy and cheap to build, i currently have an old box, but thinking about upgrading my gaming rig CPU so ill have a spare CPU... just add in a cheap mobo and ram (less than $300) and ive got a stonking HTPC as well so ill probably do that soon.

Depends if your going from scratch or not.

I'll also reply to ya PM tonight, ill have some spare time to go through the billion i have sitting there

[Trav33]

its easier just to torrent directly to the box itself

What program(s) are you using to download? I used to use bearshare, but it seems rather bare now!

[R31Nismoid]

utorrent all the way and then dedicated invite only torrent sites, i dont use free shit as quality can be suspect at times among other issues where the invite only sites are dedicated and boot uploads for posting shit

[JAS-25T]

Found this.......I might keep an eye on it and put a bid in tonight

http://www.graysonline.com.au/lot.asp?LOT_ID=3307812

[JAS-25T]

finally got someone to price one up for me

DISCRIPTION QTY PRICE

MS WINDOWS VISTA ULTIMATE 32bits OEM 1 $339.00

SEAGATE 1TB SATA 3.5" HDD 1 $210.00

KINGSTON KHX6400D2K2/4GB KIT, HEAT SINK RAM 1 $165.00

ASUS WIRELESS PCI CARD 1 $45.00

SILVERSTONE LC20 CASE 1 $190.00

DVICO HDTV TUNER 1 $189.00

LG BLU RAY 1 $225.00

INTEL CORE 2 DUO 3.0GHz 1 $289.00

GIGABYTE M/BOARD DQ6 1 $310.00

ASUS 512MB HDMI VIDEO CARD 1 $159.00

CPU COOLER 1 $70.00

LABOUR $150.00

TOTAL $2,341.00

comments/tips please?

[Deano45]

Get another hard disk of equal size at least. This would be for backup purposes. You don\'t want to lose all those videos and things that you have on there. Also get some imaging software so once you get the system setup how you like, you can take an image of it rather than having to re-install from scratch, should anything happen.

Edited March 16, 2009 by Deano45

[JAS-25T]

It's a bit richer than I would have liked, but you know........it always happens.

[JimmyRickard]

yip or just put linux on ur ps3 and buy a bigger hdd for the ps3. Theres some cool versions of linux for ps3 these days that are specificaly for media centres.

hey mate do you have any more info on this? Can you just use Ubuntu? Also I've heard that linux on PS3 has trouble running .mkv files, and can't read NTFS. It would be pointless to use it as a media centre if you can't do these things.

[pkblade]

Mobo – the DQ6 is a high-end overclockers mobo...there's quite a few which are almost half the price, that will be just as good

HDD – you could get 2x Western Digital 640Gb drives for that price

GPU - what model ASUS 512Mb?...Nvidia 9600GT??

CPU heatsink - be sure there's enough clearance in the case as some are quite tall

PSU - you'll need one of these as that case won't come with one and preferably with an 80%+ efficiency rating.

[R31Nismoid]

DISCRIPTION QTY PRICE

MS WINDOWS VISTA ULTIMATE 32bits OEM 1 $339.00

SEAGATE 1TB SATA 3.5" HDD 1 $210.00

KINGSTON KHX6400D2K2/4GB KIT, HEAT SINK RAM 1 $165.00

ASUS WIRELESS PCI CARD 1 $45.00

SILVERSTONE LC20 CASE 1 $190.00

DVICO HDTV TUNER 1 $189.00

LG BLU RAY 1 $225.00

INTEL CORE 2 DUO 3.0GHz 1 $289.00

GIGABYTE M/BOARD DQ6 1 $310.00

ASUS 512MB HDMI VIDEO CARD 1 $159.00

CPU COOLER 1 $70.00

LABOUR $150.00

TOTAL $2,341.00

Umm can anyone say jebus? This is for a media box and your getting stung that much… Cost more than my gaming rig mate… fark.

Ultimate - you sure you need it? Because him only quoting 32bit means you do NOT need 4gb ram (later on in the post). 64-bit, Vista Home Premium is around $190. Stuff paying another $130 for nothing mate for a HTPC.

Seagate HDD - over priced. Should be $170 at the most. I recommend a WD 1tb drive, $155, cheaper again and nothing wrong with them

Ram - over priced (should be $100). DDR2 ram is cheap as chips.

Silverstone case - 190 isnt the best price, $15 can be saved if you really want.

Blu Ray player - again over priced. $160 tops for a blu ray reader. Burners are $300-$320 for goodness sake

CPU - E8400 is $262 from MSY… and honestly you don’t need more than a E7300 or so @ a price of $185

GPU - Again MSY to the rescue - 512M ASUS/ATi 4670 - $127. You can get a 1GB card for $160. You could look at getting a sapphire 4670 which are a tad better again over the ASUS.

Mobo - Not a bad price for a DQ6 - but fk me… do you need one? IMO he's kidding. EP-45 UD3R or UD3P, no questions. Save another $80-$100 there.

See here for the mobo's compared, there is stuff all difference:

http://www.giga-byte.com/Products/Motherbo...=3013,2763,2765

There is seriously no value in a DQ6 that you cant get in the newer UD3 series GB mobo's. The UD3 are arguably the BEST of the P45 series, so screw getting anything else

Your getting ripped hard as it gets mate, whoever your going to, go elsewhere

They are making you buy stuff you don’t need, and making you pay a very tidy premium on some parts.

So the above is a saving of $700 by using better prices, parts that are cheaper in price (not cheaper in quality), and furthermore components that actually suit the application. Plus I promise you wouldn’t know the difference between my setup and the above in a media box application.

I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news in the above… but I hate seeing people get stung, and the tune of around $700 is filthy!

And as pkblade said, PSU in there somewhere, but thats only $150 or so

[JAS-25T]

Ok - thats pretty much what I was thinking when I seen the quote - as I told him a budget of around 1500.

which is what it would be with your specs.

Would you build it for me?

Looks like I will end up building it myself

I know 32bit wont use 4gb but it will recognise 3.5gb

[R31Nismoid]

I could built it and ship it for you if you want mate, say around the same labour price he would charge and you got a deal

Although shipping might be a tax exxy, but wouldnt be too bad id assume.

I'll also load/heat test it for 8hrs and so on to ensure total stability like i have done for a couple of people lately

[R31Nismoid]

Ok - thats pretty much what I was thinking when I seen the quote - as I told him a budget of around 1500.

which is what it would be with your specs.

Would you build it for me?

Looks like I will end up building it myself

I know 32bit wont use 4gb but it will recognise 3.5gb

32bit and 64bit is a price diff of $20

i run 64bit daily and i only have a issue with Windows Media player not closing properly, other than that it works fine with VLC/Media P classic for all my movie needs

[JAS-25T]

I could built it and ship it for you if you want mate, say around the same labour price he would charge and you got a deal

Although shipping might be a tax exxy, but wouldnt be too bad id assume.

I'll also load/heat test it for 8hrs and so on to ensure total stability like i have done for a couple of people lately

If you're keen, I'll PM my postcode and you could let me know a total price and we might have a deal.

Not sure about going 64 vista.

only thing I would want that he may not have put in is dual tuner card & a remote that will work on WMC

(im not sure if this was included in the tuner car he suggested)

[R31Nismoid]

Ye i can sort that WMC remote stuff

PM me the details dude, ill try workout rough delivery/total price over the next day or two